Abstract: An apparatus and method for reading agglutination tests and other procedures by scanning the contents of a microtest well or other sample-holding vessel to determine a certain charactersitic of the contents, such as the size of an agglutination button or other solid mass in the well.

Abstract: An analgesic aspirin composition in dosage form having acetylsalicylic acid and unreacted glycine in an amount equal to at least approximately 33.3% of the weight of the acetylsalicylic acid for rendering the aspirin nontoxic upon swallowing the aspirin composition, as well as rendering the aspirin sublingually absorbable.

Abstract: An electrical jack having at least one socket for receiving an edge connector, a printed circuit board structure having an end portion extending into the socket for reception in the connector upon insertion of the connector into the socket, and switching means normally conditioned to cooperate with a printed circuit on the printed circuit board for electrically connecting a first set of jack terminals to a second set of jack terminals, the switching means extending into the jack's socket for actuation by insertion of the connector into the socket to electrically disconnect the two sets of terminals from each other.

Abstract: An electrical jack and method of making the electrical jack wherein a housing is formed with at least one socket for receiving a circuit board edge connector, wherein a circuit card is fixed to the housing and has an end portion extending into the socket for reception in the connector upon insertion of the connector into the socket, and wherein a set of contact spring members are insertable through an aperture in the housing in the process of making the electrical jack. The contact spring members are removably trapped in place against cooperating surfaces on the housing and the circuit card at positions where they cooperate with conductors on the circuit card to normally interconnect two sets of terminals and where they are deflectable by insertion of the connector into the socket to electrically disconnect the two sets of terminals from each other.

Abstract: Apparatus for control of multiple liquid dispensing providing accurate metering, close spacing of the fluids dispensed and rapid cycling. One embodiment contemplates transferring liquids from a multiplicity of containers to a corresponding multiplicity of wells in a microtitration test tray, and includes a multiplicity of resilient conduits extending from the containers into a common pinch type valve that clamps the ends of the conduits closed or permits them to open for liquid discharge.

Abstract: An inoculator wherein a multiplicity of small volumes of an inoculum are picked up on pins depending from an inoculator head and deposited in separate areas according to a pattern, such as in the wells of a microtitration tray. The instrument includes a control circuit for automatic cycling, and a sterilization furnace is provided that may be included in the operational cycle.

Abstract: A test plate reader wherein a transparent test plate having a multiplicity of material containing wells is located across a light path, and a target having a pattern of opaque areas corresponding in number and location to the wells is interposed in the light path between the light source and the plate, so that the wells may be viewed against a brighter uniformly lighted background for improved contrast.

Abstract: A device for applying a section of pressure sensitive tape as a cover over the surface of a test tray having a multiplicity of upwardly open wells comprises a base having a sealing zone intermediate a tray loading zone and a tray removal zone. The tray is placed on a slide guide at the loading zone and moved to the sealing zone where a rotatable resiliently surfaced feed roller presses the leading end of the tape upon and along the top surface of the tray while moving the tray through the device.